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Tottenham are keen on signing Torino star Samuele Ricci

Tottenham Hotspur had a big summer this time around as head coach Ange Postecoglou very much got his wishes fulfilled.

The Greek-Australian tactician made five exciting signings over the transfer window, with Dominic Solanke and Wilson Odobert costing big money. He also was successful in moving on the deadwood from the Tottenham squad and trimming the wage bill.

To put things simply, Ange Postecoglou managed to make his reshape his squad as per his vision and long-term thinking. The summer transfer window for the majority of the leagues across the world have been closed, but that hasn’t stopped Spurs from planning for future investments.

According to a report from HITC (h/t TEAMtalk), Tottenham sent scouts to watch Torino star Samuele Ricci in action for Italy against Israel during the UEFA Nations League group-stage clash on Monday evening. The central midfielder impressed and played 86 minutes in Italy’s 2-1 win over Israel at the Bozsik Arena.

-> Tottenham’s 5 best PL opening day wins

Samuele Ricci has been a part of Torino’s furniture since 2022 after arriving from Empoli. The 23-year-old has made 81 appearances for Torino thus far, registering three goals and five assists in the process. He has already made four appearances this season—including a cup outing against Cosenza last month.

The defensive midfielder’s performances for the Turin club haven’t gone unnoticed across Europe, with Tottenham among several clubs keen on signing him. The aforementioned report (TEAMtalk) adds that Torino values Ricci in the region of £25million, as the Lilywhites continue monitoring his progress ahead of a possible swoop.

Ange Postecoglou wants to reinforce his midfield unit further in January after the arrivals of youngsters Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall. And while Gray and Bergvall are viewed as key pieces in the squad for now and the future, Postecoglou losing Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Oliver Skipp earlier this summer has to be kept in mind.

Hojbjerg and Skipp’s exits have weakened Spurs’ depth in the midfield unit, and as they are set to compete in the Europa League this season, it wouldn’t be beyond the realms of possibility that the club spends on a midfield signing in January. If that is the case, it would make sense for Spurs to make a move for Ricci when the transfer window reopens.

It is a feasible prospect, as Big Ange could still use another central midfielder at the Hotspur Way—despite Gray and Bergvall waiting on the wings to start games. A player in the mould of Ricci would be a smart fit in Big Ange’s pressing system, with the four-cap Italy international bringing his all-action style to the floor. He can operate as a No.6 or No.8, which will in turn provide the Tottenham head coach to rotate his squad freely without compromising on quality.

-> Tottenham Hotspur confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25

Given the hectic schedule in front of us this time around, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Ricci situation develops and we end up tabling an offer to Torino for him in the New Year.

Arsenal sans Martin Odegaard could be Tottenham Hotspur’s gain in the NLD

Tottenham Hotspur host Arsenal in the North London Derby in the Premier League on September 15th. They will be looking to claim their second straight victory on home turf after thumping Everton 4-0 last time around, but it could only be their second success this season given that they’re winless on the road against Leicester City and Newcastle United.

Ange Postecoglou’s men are about to face a Spurs side without Declan Rice, who was shown a red card in their match against Brighton before the international break and consequently, will miss the Gunners’ trip to their bitter rivals.

Riccardo Calafiori is also a doubt for the fixture after suffering a freak injury in Italy’s UEFA Nations League game against France and as per Sky Sports, Martin Odegaard is the latest player to join Arsenal’s treatment table after his injury on international duty. Mikel Arteta’s captain was seen on crutches following his representation for Norway.

With Arsenal missing as many as three crucial players, the upcoming derby is a golden opportunity for Tottenham to claim all three points and bolster their chances of finishing in a top-four position. Ange Postecoglou already has all the ammunition to beat the Gunners.

Spurs will need to win the midfield battle if they are to succeed in the game and can do so by overloading the central areas, especially because two players who conduct the play for their opponent are absent.

While the Lilywhites can take advantage of Rice’s absence by moving the ball forward more effectively, Odegaard missing out means Tottenham’s number six can also venture higher up the pitch by being relatively free of his defensive shackles. A ball carrier who is physically adept, like Yves Bissouma can be given the license to do that job.

Meanwhile, James Maddison will have to put on a better showing than he did against Newcastle as the attacking midfielder. The former Leicester star has been going through a barren run of form but Spurs will need him to be at his best if indeed they are to exploit Arsenal without Rice and Son Heung-min’s ability to drop deep and dribble with the ball will also be very important.

Thomas Partey should be the man Tottenham must target in one-on-one situations, especially through Son, as the ex-Atletico Madrid midfielder is not among the fastest players between the two rivals. If Spurs can bypass Arsenal’s midfield, they would have done more than half the work that teams need to do to beat Arteta’s disciplined side.

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When playing without the ball, a low block would work best for Tottenham, as Arsenal have no creative outlet to unlock their defence. Man-marking will also be a better idea than zonally employing players given that Odegaard’s and Rice’s playmaking could compel the Gunners into playing short passes and using Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli to dribble with the ball.

The international break is almost in its final lap and it is only a matter of time before club football returns. Coming back from the break, Tottenham have one of their biggest clashes in the Premier League against Arsenal.

The traditional North London derby is one of the hard-fought rivals in all of football. Clearly, there are no pleasantries to be exchanged between the two clubs at any point and it will be a battle for bragging rights early in the season.

Tottenham have had a mixed start to the season with one draw, one win and one loss in three Premier League games. Arsenal on the other hand have had two wins and one draw so far in their three games this season.

With the all-important Arsenal game on the horizon, we take a look at how Ange Postecoglou could set Tottenham up against the Gunners this Sunday.

Guglielmo Vicario is nailed in to start as the goalkeeper on the night barring any late mishaps. The Italian shot-stopper has not had the best of starts to the season but will be hoping to put in a solid performance against the Gunners.

In front of him will be a back four comprising of Pedro Porro (inexplicably left out by Spain, yet again), Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven (he should be fit and ready) and Destiny Udogie who provided an assist on international duty.

Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur are likely to start as the midfield pairing on the day, with Pape Matar Sarr dropping to the bench. James Maddison is nailed in to start as the primary #10 on the team sheet.

Dejan Kulusevski is almost certain to start on the right side of the attack with Brennan Johnson likely to start on the left. The Welsh youngster should be in line to replace Wilson Odobert in the starting XI against Arsenal.

Son Heung-min is mostly set to start as the number nine on the night with Dominic Solanke on the bench. Alternatively, if the English striker is fit to start the game against Arsenal, the captain could move to the left in place of Johnson.

The

//tothelaneandback.com/2024/09/15/tottenham-star-struggling-for-opportunities-concerns-on-stalled-development/">

Tottenham star struggling for opportunities; concerns on stalled development

Tottenham concerned about Arsenal and Man City in the rave to land English international

likes of Archie Gray, Pape Sarr, Lucas Bergvall and Odobert are almost certain to receive minutes off the bench. The line-up does look strong on paper and let’s hope Ange Postecoglou can inspire his team to a victory against an injury-raven Arsenal.

Tottenham star Ben Davies is on the radar of Turkish giants Galatasaray

Tottenham Hotspur enjoyed a busy transfer window in the summer, acquiring the signatures of some exciting talents with high potential.

The Lilywhites have also done a brilliant job of moving on the deadwood and the players on the fringes of Ange Postecoglou, except Sergio Reguilon, who now faces the risk of being frozen out for several months if he does not leave N17.

As the transfer window for most of the European clubs are now closed, moving to Turkey seemingly appears to be Reguilon’s last hope of ending his time at Tottenham. Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce have emerged as a genuine option to offer the Spaniard an escape route out of the Hotspur Way.

And now, Fenerbahce’s Super Lig rivals are eyeing another Tottenham defender before Turkey’s September 13 transfer deadline. According to a report from Turkish outlet Takvim, Galatasaray are eyeing a shock late swoop for Tottenham star Ben Davies. They are keen to bolster their backline with a versatile, experienced defender and have set their sights on the 31-year-old.

-> Tottenham’s 5 best PL opening day wins

Ben Davies has been a solid and reliable performer for Spurs since arriving from Swansea City in 2014. The Lilywhites’ veteran has thrived primarily at left-back and left wing-back but has also impressed with his ability to operate in central defence. He has made a total of 330 appearances for the North Londoners, chipping in with nine goals and 23 assists to date.

However, the Wales international faces an uncertain future at the club as he has entered the final year of his contract (Transfermarkt). Galatasaray are seemingly looking to take advantage of Davies’ situation at Spurs and sign him on a significantly reduced fee now.

The aforementioned report adds that the Turkish heavyweights are planning to switch to a back five after the high-profile arrival of Victor Osimhen from Napoli, and Davies is viewed as an ideal candidate to operate in a three-man backline. The 10-season Spurs veteran will undoubtedly be a strong addition to Omar Buruk’s side, but the main question is—will head coach Ange Postecoglou sanction and chairman Daniel Levy sanction a move now?

The £80,000-per-week star, who recently put in a strong display for Wales in the 0-0 draw with Turkiye in a UEFA Nations League group-stage fixture, is one of the most senior members in the Spurs dressing room. The Welshman is a leader and highly experienced player who can essay multiple defensive roles, and with Spurs set to embrace a hectic schedule after the international break, which involves the Carabao Cup and the Europa League matches, Big Ange cannot afford to let Davies depart now.

-> Tottenham Hotspur confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25

That being said, our club must reject any advances from Galatasaray for Davies as the 31-year-old is expected to play a big part during the 2024/25 season.

Rabiot approaches Tottenham over a free transfer

Tottenham Hotspur’s squad has failed to deliver in the early weeks of the Premier League as they have secured just four points out of a possible nine in three outings so far in the season.

A rebuilding opportunity has presented itself on their door with Adrien Rabiot offering himself to the Lilywhites, as well as their crosstown rivals Arsenal, over a free transfer according to an exclusive report by Graeme Bailey on TBR Football.

The Frenchman remains without a club having left Juventus at the end of last season and is hoping to find a new home in the Premier League, with North London expected to be of particular interest to him.

Although the summer’s transfer window has shut, clubs are permitted to sign free agents and register them until September 13th and as a result, Rabiot is hoping to find a solution to his future sooner rather than later and failing to do so, his search for a new club must wait until January.

Tottenham Hotspur already seem to be opposed to the idea of landing him with Ange Postecoglou reportedly keen on signing players with a long-term view, To The Lane And Back reported earlier.

The Australian believes Rabiot would be a short or medium-term option in Spurs’ midfield and rightly so, as his arrival could hamper the development of the likes of Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall.

On a side note, life has come full circle for Rabiot and Tottenham as the player turned down a move to the club back in 2019 as he deemed Spurs below his standard.

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It remains to be seen if Arsenal are willing to bet on him as a free agent but such a move also looks unlikely with Mikel Arteta focusing on building a younger squad, much like a number of other Premier League clubs.

Son Heung-min has entered the final year of his contract at Tottenham Hotspur

Son Heung-min has begun his 10th season at Tottenham Hotspur in some style, bagging two goals already in three Premier League games.

After arriving from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2015, the South Korean struck an instant relationship with the Tottenham Hotspur faithful and became a fan favourite. He has already earned legendary status at N17 for his consistency, passion, commitment, leadership skills and attitude off the pitch. The 32-year-old has made over 400 appearances across all competitions thus far, netting 164 goals and registering 84 assists.

However, Son Heung-min has entered the final year of his contract at Tottenham (Transfermarkt). This has led to speculation over his long-term future at the club, with cash-rich Saudi Pro League clubs already monitoring the situation. They are planning to sign the South Korean superstar on a potential free transfer in 2025.

-> Tottenham Hotspur confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25

Football London’s Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold has given us an update on Son’s contract situation. In a Q&A session with the Spurs fans, he hinted that an extension can certainly be agreed upon if both parties are on the same page.

It is no doubt that Son is a revered figure at Tottenham. The forward’s responsibility at the club increased since last season when Ange Postecoglou decided to hand him the captaincy reins. The 32-year-old led the team extremely well as Spurs narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification, finishing fifth on the table.

Despite turning 32, Son has shown no signs of slowing down. He was quite prolific for the North London outfit last season and carried the attack following Harry Kane’s high-profile move to Bayern Munich, registering 17 goals and 10 assists in 35 Premier League appearances.

-> Tottenham’s 5 best PL opening day wins

The Chuncheon-Si-born ace has maintained incredible fitness and consistency levels over the years. That coupled with his versatility, experience, status and value, as well as being a club’s glowing ambassador in Asia, chairman Daniel Levy would never risk losing Son on a free transfer. That being said, Spurs must not think twice about handing Son a contract extension as he is our best player.

Adrien Rabiot is not expected to be Tottenham’s priority

Tottenham Hotspur enjoyed a busy transfer window in the summer but that has not stopped them from being linked with transfers for free agents, including the likes of Anthony Martial, Memphis Depay and Yusuf Yazici, while recently rumoured to be in the equation for Adrien Rabiot as well.

However, reliable Spurs journalist Alasdair Gold has ruled out a transfer for the Frenchman, barring any unforeseen injury issues before the Premier League’s registration deadline of September 13th.

In an interview with Football London, he stated that Ange Postecoglou is unlikely to be appealed by a short-term option in his squad although Rabiot could arrive on a free transfer. Gold was quoted saying the following when quizzed about Spurs’ interest in the former Juventus midfielder:

“Unless there are any injuries… I’d be surprised if there was a free agent signing. Mainly because Postecoglou is always talking about not signing short-term, stop-gap players… He only wants players that fit his very specific system.”

Adrien Rabiot has played under various different managers in his career. He has won the Ligue 1 five times and the Serie A once, so he definitely has the experience to fit into Postecoglou’s system. However, the argument of being a short-term option is very valid.

The Australian has refused to sign players who are inching towards the dusk of their careers since joining from Celtic in order to bring in younger options who the club can benefit in the longer term, more so by signing for cheaper transfer fees.

More Tottenham Hotspur News:

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Tottenham Hotspur already have a number of young midfielders they can count on, such as Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall and as a result, there is no reason for them to invest in Rabiot, who is not only a short-term signing but will command a significant wage despite joining as a free agent.

Why Sergio Reguilon wants to depart Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur signed Sergio Reguilon from Real Madrid in 2020 in a transfer worth £32 million and having initially nailed down a berth in the starting eleven under Jose Mourinho, the left-back has struggled for minutes throughout his career in north London.

Loans spells followed for the 27-year-old with the likes of Atletico Madrid, Brentford and Manchester United and despite impressing elsewhere, he was unable to win Ange Postecoglou’s trust with Destiny Udogie recently affixing himself as the Australian’s primary option at left-back.

Reguilon wants to depart Tottenham sooner rather than later, while Spurs also have no good reason to keep a player who is not part of their manager’s plans, especially with the left-back position backed up by Ben Davies.

The Athletic has reported that Reguilon wants to leave because he has liked the taste of Champions League football during his spells with other clubs and playing in the continent’s elite competition is his ambition.

Moreover, he always wants to be ‘loved’ wherever he goes next and with that not happening at Tottenham, a departure seems like the best possible option for all concerned parties. That said, only two countries can sign Reguilon in the next few days.

With the transfer window ending in most European countries, just sides in Greece and Turkey are able to bring in newer players until September 11th and September 13th, respectively. It remains to be seen if those clubs appeal to Reguilon and whether his transfer is financially viable for them too.

It has emerged that Turkey is a realistic option for him and that Spurs are prepared to freeze him out of the senior team if he does not opt for a move by next week. If Reguilon does not choose a club by September 13th, a decision on his future will need to be placed on hold until January.

More Tottenham Hotspur News:

Tottenham in three-way transfer battle as Conte plans to sign Spurs target this summer

Not Toney – Tottenham put off by €50m asking price for striker whose contract expires in less than 12 months

Tottenham now in position to hijack Chelsea deal for Serie A ace

It will be exciting to see what the near future holds for Reguilon as there is no doubt that he would want to play regularly given the stage of his career he is at, while Tottenham Hotspur also would not want to keep a player they have deemed as deadweight on their roster for much longer.

Reguilon could be frozen out by Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur are keen on getting rid of Sergio Reguilon sooner rather than later as he is not expected to be a part of Ange Postecoglou’s first team plans for the ongoing season.

Destiny Udogie has emerged as the preferred option under the Australian boss while Ben Davies has been selected as the back-up option for the north Londoners, which has resulted in Reguilon not having any way back into Spurs’ plans either.

In spite of going out on loan to the likes of Atletico Madrid, Brentford and Manchester United over the course of his career with Tottenham, the 27-year-old has failed to convince the club in order to trust him with opportunities in their team.

Things have reached a melting point now as according to Mirror (newspaper edition of 8th September on page 69), the Spanish full-back faces the risk of being frozen out for several months if he does not depart Tottenham Hotspur.

The club’s idea is to send him out to Turkey, where the transfer window is still open and runs until September 13th and teams continue to revamp their squads in the final days of the market.

There is no clarity as to whether there is an interest in Reguilon’s services from either side in Turkey, while it also remains to be seen if Tottenham Hotspur are willing to let him leave on loan.

A reunion with Jose Mourinho at Fenerbahce is an option that cannot be ruled out for Sergio Reguilon at this point after the duo enjoyed a successful time together at Spurs, while other leading clubs in Turkey like Galatasaray and Besiktas could also be attractive options.

More Tottenham Hotspur News:

Tottenham in three-way transfer battle as Conte plans to sign Spurs target this summer

Not Toney – Tottenham put off by €50m asking price for striker whose contract expires in less than 12 months

Tottenham now in position to hijack Chelsea deal for Serie A ace

If Reguilon does not leave in the next five days, he will be forced to train with Spurs’ reserve or developmental sides and could be entirely barred from participating in first team proceedings, at least until January, when another window of opportunity would open itself up.

Cristian Romero will miss Tottenham’s Europa League opener against Qarabag FK due to UEFA rule

Tottenham Hotspur announced their Europa League squad for group stages earlier this week.

Due to Wednesday’s deadline and to comply with the strict guidelines on squad numbers, unlike the Premier League, the North London club faced a challenge in picking their squad for the Europa League group stages. They were forced to omit Djed Spence and Sergio Reguilon and announce only a 23-man squad for the European competition.

Spurs’ European adventure begins against Qarabag FK at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 26. However, according to a report from Football London, Tottenham will be without the services of experienced defender Cristian Romero for the visit of Qarabag FK.

-> Tottenham’s 5 best PL opening day wins

This is due to the 2022 World Cup winner picking up a red card two seasons ago when Tottenham were last in Europe. Cristian Romero was sent off for two bookable offences during Tottenham’s round of 16 tie against AC Milan two seasons ago. The centre-back was first cautioned in the 17th minute, followed by a second yellow card in the 77th minute, resulting in his dismissal.

The aforementioned report adds UEFA regulations state that carry over to future tournaments, so while Spurs didn’t participate in a European competition last season, Romero must serve his ban in the forthcoming Europa League fixture against the Azerbaijan side as the sanction is ‘still alive’.

Romero has been one of the first names on Big Ange’s teamsheet, making his absence against Qarabag a massive blow. A leader and fantastic organiser, the Argentinean is Spurs’ best defender and his presence on the pitch makes a huge difference.

With Micky van de Ven missing the trip to Newcastle United due to not being 100 per cent fit, Big Ange will be hoping for no further defensive injuries ahead of the gruelling schedule after the ongoing international break concludes.

The Greek-Aussie tactician has Radu Dragusin as his third natural centre-back option in the squad, and going by his first outing of the season in the 2-1 defeat to Newcastle, the Romania international can be relied upon in the upcoming domestic cup competition and European adventure. In Romero’s absence, Dragusin is expected to step into the starting XI against Qarabag later this month.

-> Tottenham Hotspur confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25

With a taxing schedule set to follow post-international break, our gaffer must manage his squad sensibly in the weeks and months ahead.